The Fallen by Michael Wood

Author:Michael Wood
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008222383
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2016-10-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

With only two weeks until Christmas, shoppers were out in force. The hardy gift buyers were wrapped up against the bitter elements as they braved the arctic freeze to ensure their loved ones had a merry Christmas. Heavy winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and a good strong pair of comfortable shoes were the standard uniform of shoppers in Sheffield city centre.

Matilda left Sian in the car parked on double yellow lines, with the hazard lights flashing. As she made her way through the throng of shoppers, she saw the looks on their pinched red faces; steely determination. These people had a list and they would get every item regardless of whom they had to stand on to get it. Militant shoppers were to be avoided at all costs.

Waterstones was a large book shop on two levels with a welcoming Costa franchise upstairs. There was something about the lingering smell of freshly brewed coffee and books that made it so inviting. The effect was lost on Matilda. She read occasionally, mostly when on holiday, but she wasn’t a big reader.

The store was heaving with people. Shelves and tables were stacked high with the bestsellers and carols played on a loop through the sound system.

‘Excuse me, I’m looking for Judy King. Is she working today?’ Matilda asked one pale-looking shop assistant.

‘Yes she is. I last saw her in cookery. Follow me.’ Without smiling, he turned and led the way upstairs.

‘Is the new Lee Child out?’ Matilda asked, thinking of a possible gift for her husband. She knew he was a fan of the thriller writer.

‘Yes,’ the assistant said, stopping halfway up the stairs and looking at Matilda. ‘It came out in August.’

‘Oh. Thank you.’

The bookseller led Matilda up the stairs and around the corner into the cookery section. ‘Judy, you have a visitor.’

Judy King was standing in an alcove straining under the weight of half a dozen hardback cookery books in her arms. She was tall, slender and in her mid-forties. She had dyed brown hair and the face of a woman who had been through many troubles. She was drawn around the eyes and her mouth hung down at the corners. She looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

‘I’m DCI Matilda Darke from South Yorkshire Police. Would it be possible to have a word?’

‘Oh. Yes, sure,’ she said, taken aback.

The young assistant left them. Judy placed the books carefully on the floor in front of her.

‘Is he all right? He looks like death warmed up,’ Matilda smiled.

‘Jonathan? Oh, he’s harmless. What can I do for you?’

‘Judy,’ Matilda said, stepping forward and lowering her voice. ‘I’m afraid I have some bad news. Your ex-husband, Iain, was found dead at his home earlier this morning.’

‘Iain’s dead? Oh my God. What happened?’ Her right hand went up to her necklace from which hung a large depiction of Jesus on the cross.

‘It looks like he’s been murdered.’

‘Oh my …’ and with that, Judy collapsed to the floor.

Matilda had heard about people fainting upon hearing bad news but she had never seen it happen.

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